Bob Rutter

Practice Areas

Insurance Coverage Lawyer for Policyholders

Bob Rutter has over 35 years of experience successfully fighting insurance companies on behalf of policyholders. Along the way he has become a nationally recognized leader in insurance coverage law, personally arguing and winning two landmark cases before the Ohio Supreme Court which helped define insurance bad faith in the state.

Bob started his insurance law career on the other side of the fence, working for a firm that represented insurance companies. After learning how insurance companies operated, Bob switched sides to co-found Rutter & Russin in 1991. He dedicated his practice to achieving justice for policyholders across the Midwest who have been wronged by the very same insurance companies they thought would protect them in their time of need.

Career

2019 Respected Advocate Award, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys

Lifetime Achievement Award, Ohio Association for Justice, Annual Convention, 2017

Certified Specialist in Insurance Coverage Law, Ohio State Bar Association, 2017 – 2022

The Best Lawyers in America, Insurance Law, 2015 – 2026

The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Insurance, 2015 – 2026

The Best Lawyers in America 2016, 2021, 2025 Cleveland Insurance Law “Lawyer of the Year”

The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Cleveland Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year”

Rutter & Russin, LLC has been named a Tier 1 firm in Cleveland for Insurance Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Rutter & Russin, LLC has been named a Tier 1 firm in Cleveland for Litigation Insurance Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in 2024, 2025, 2026

AV Preeminent Rated in Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Avvo Rated 10 out of 10

Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage, 2010 – 2026

Super Lawyers Top 50 List in Cleveland, 2016 – 2020, 2024 – 2026

Super Lawyers Top 100 List in Ohio, 2016 – 2020, 2024 – 2026

Professional Memberships

Ohio State Bar Association, Insurance Law Committee

Chair, Insurance Law Committee, 2010 – 2012

Chair, Insurance Coverage Specialization Committee, 2009 – 2014

Ohio Association for Justice

Vice-Chairman, Insurance Law Section, 1991 – 1993

Chair, Insurance Law Section, 1993 – 1995

Trustee, 1998 – 2002

Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys

Trustee, 1994 – 1996

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Insurance Law Section

National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters

United Policyholders, Sponsor

Publications

“Taming the ERISA Beast: Contesting the Denial of ERISA Insurance Claims”

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal, 2015

“Understanding Your Professional Liability Policy: What You Need to Know”

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal, 2014

“A Lamb in Wolf’s Clothing: The Insurer’s Duty to Defend Business Torts”

Ohio Lawyer, March-April 2004

“Insurance Bad Faith in Ohio After Zoppo: Where Are We?”

Ohio Trial, Winter 1995

“Fire Insurance Law”

Ohio Trial, Fall 1993

“Recovery in Ohio for Fear of Cancer and Increased Risk of Cancer”

Ohio Academy of Civil Trial Attorneys Journal, 1987

Industry Sector Expertise

We sue insurance companies. And we do it well.

Rutter & Russin is one of Ohio's leading advocates for policyholders fighting their insurance carriers. For over 35 years, we have negotiated and litigated insurance coverage and bad faith cases on behalf of individuals, families, and businesses throughout Ohio and the Midwest.

Awards